Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 1966

Vol. 220 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Wage and Salary Increases.

2.

(South Tipperary) asked the Taoiseach the estimated cost to the community of the national wage agreement of one pound per week increases in wages and salaries on the lines suggested by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

An increase of £1 per week in the earnings of all employees in the State, would, it is estimated, represent an increase of about £35 million in the annual total earnings of employees.

That is very different from the employers' £50 million, is it not?

3.

(South Tipperary) asked the Taoiseach the estimated cost to the community of a three per cent national wage agreement increase as recently mentioned by the Minister for Finance.

A rise of three per cent in the aggregate income of wage and salary earners above the 1965 level, would, it is estimated, represent an increase of £14 million in the annual total earnings of employees.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if the three per cent is applied to every wage and salary earner in the country?

(South Tipperary) asked the Taoiseach what was the cost to the community of the ninth round 12 per cent national wage agreement; and the total number of persons covered by the agreement.

For national income purposes, the Central Statistics Office estimates the aggregate wages and salaries in the State in each year. It is not possible to segregate increases in wages and salaries which occurred as a result of the ninth round from other contemporaneous increases, e.g. those arising from new employment. For 1964 the total wages and salaries of all employees are estimated to have been about £62 million, or 16½ per cent more than in 1963. Preliminary indications are that aggregate wages and salaries in 1965 increased by a further £25 million or 5¾ per cent. Information regarding the total number of persons covered by the ninth round agreement is not available.

Top
Share